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Michael Jordan: A Profile in Failure
By Jeff Stibel
2017
Jeff Stibel is a brain scientist, author, and businessman. With his partner Kobe Bryant, he founded Bryant
Stibel to support others starting new businesses. In this text, Stibel discusses Michael Jordan’s failures. Skill
Focus: In this lesson, you’ll practice identifying an author’s central idea and how they support it. This means
paying attention to the evidence and reasons they give for their idea. As you read, make note of the details
that support the author’s central idea about failure and success.
[1]
Michael Jordan needs no introduction. Something
of a legend for turning failure into success, he is
the author of the longest quote on my company’s
failure wall — which was tricky to paint but worth
the extra effort:
I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my
career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six
times, I’ve been trusted to take the gamewinning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and
over and over again in my life. And that is
why I succeed.
Most of us don’t fail or succeed in the glare of a
national spotlight, much less do it thousands of
"JORDAN 23" by Marco Varisco is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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times, with analysts endlessly critiquing every
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move. Perhaps that’s why people love sports: they provide a black and white analogy for the gray
backdrop of life. The ball is in or it’s out, the basket is made or missed, the game is won or lost.
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Watching our favorite stars pull through when the chips are down inspires us to do the same in our
own lives. And no one has inspired more sports fans, young and old alike, than Michael Jordan.
The story of Michael Jordan not making his high school team has been told and retold, but continues to
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inspire with each retelling. In 1978, sophomore Michael Jordan tried out for the varsity basketball
team at Laney High School. When the list was posted, Jordan’s name wasn’t on it. Instead, he was asked
to play on the junior varsity team.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Critique (verb): to examine carefully or call out mistakes and errors
Analogy (noun): a comparison between two things
when in a difficult or dangerous situation
the first-string team in a sport at a school
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[5]
The reasoning behind the choice wasn’t that Jordan didn’t have enough talent or hadn’t already
distinguished himself as an outstanding basketball player. Rather, it came down to seniority, size, and
a strategic decision: The varsity team already had eleven seniors and three juniors. That left space for
only one more player, and the coaches chose another sophomore, Jordan’s friend Leroy Smith. Smith
was not as good as Jordan but he added size to the team, as he was 6’6” compared to Jordan’s
diminutive 5’10”. What’s more, the coaches knew that if Jordan had been chosen for the varsity team,
he would play only when needed as a substitute for the more senior varsity players. On the junior
varsity team he would get more playing time and a chance to truly develop.
It was a perfectly logical choice for the coaches to assign Jordan to the junior varsity team for his
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sophomore year. But 15-year-old Jordan was devastated when the list was posted without his name.
In his mind, it was the ultimate defeat, the ultimate failure. “I went to my room and I closed the door
and I cried. For a while I couldn’t stop. Even though there was no one else home at the time, I kept the
door shut. It was important to me that no one hear me or see me.” Jordan was heartbroken and ready
to give up the sport altogether until his mother convinced him otherwise.
After picking himself up off the floor, Jordan did what champions do. He let his failure and
disappointment drive him to be better. He played on the junior varsity team, and he worked himself to
the limit. “Whenever I was working out and got tired and figured I ought to stop, I’d close my eyes and
see that list in the locker room without my name on it, and that usually got me going again.”
It became a pattern throughout Jordan’s life that a disappointment or setback resulted in a redoubling
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of effort. High school rival player Kenny Gattison, who led his team to beat Jordan’s team for the high
school state championship, put it this way: “You got to understand what fuels that guy, what makes
him great. For most people the pain of loss is temporary. [Jordan] took that loss and held on to it. It’s a
part of what made him.”
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For most people, public failure becomes public humiliation, and that leads to retreat. Fear of public
speaking is a good example. Few people are psychologically afraid of speaking their mind and even
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fewer have physical speech impediments preventing them from doing so. Yet glossophobia, the
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technical term for speech anxiety, is consistently ranked among the most prevalent mental disorders,
with a reputed 75% of the world’s population experiencing some degree of anxiety around public
speaking. Our fears have little to do with speaking, of course, and far more to do with the perceived
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impact and reaction that our audience may have. But for Jordan and elite performers like him, the
fear of failure and public ridicule is transformed into a drive for success.
[10]
The pattern of defeat followed by success would follow Jordan to the University of North Carolina and
later to the NBA. His relentless drive would lead him to break numerous records and become the
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most decorated player in the history of the NBA. What’s more, he’s credited with dramatically
increasing the popularity of basketball both in the United States and internationally, and inspiring the
next generation of basketball players including Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, and Kobe Bryant. You
can’t think of the word “champion” without thinking of Michael Jordan, and there’s no better proof that
failure is simply a stepping stone to success.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Devastate (verb): to cause someone to feel great emotional pain
trying harder; increasing effort
Humiliation (noun): a feeling of great embarrassment when one looks weak or silly
a physical condition that makes speaking difficult
Prevalent (adjective): widespread or common
Elite (adjective): belonging to a group with power due to money, knowledge, or special skills
the one who has received the most honors and awards
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Michael Jordan faced another formidable challenge decades later, when he became the owner of the
NBA basketball franchise, the Charlotte Bobcats. Jordan had been a minority owner since 2006 but
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bought the majority stake from Bob Johnson in 2010. At the time, the business was hemorrhaging, so
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Jordan used his own money to cover the significant operating losses the team was experiencing.
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The first season was lackluster but things got worse. In the 2011-2012 season, the team earned a
mere 7 wins alongside 59 losses — the worst record of any team ever in the history of the NBA.
In addition to — or maybe because of — their disastrous record, the Bobcats had poor community
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support. The Bobcats brand was synonymous with disappointment, despite having one of the best
basketball brands of all time at the helm — Michael Jordan himself.
But after the 2012-2013 season came to a close, Jordan started to turn things around. First, he brought
in former Lakers assistant coach Steve Clifford to replace Mike Dunlap. In a change every bit as
important as the new coach, Jordan agreed to remove himself from the process of managing the
team’s operations.
[15]
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Instead, Jordan focused on what Jordan can do better than anyone else: revitalizing the brand. He
applied for and received permission to change the team name to the Charlotte Hornets. Jordan
himself became more involved in community events and forged a connection between the team and
the city.
The changes paid off. The team finished the 2013-2014 season with a winning record of 43-39, the
second best year in the history of the franchise. They even made it to the playoffs. At the same time,
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ticket and merchandise sales skyrocketed and public opinion improved dramatically. The team was
well on its way to making both a comeback and a profit.
Most of us look to successful people and assume they can do anything because of their past successes.
The old joke about asking your doctor for stock tips comes to mind, as if just because you can cure an
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illness, you have wisdom about everything. Doctors don’t make great stockbrokers, brain surgeons
are horrible rocket scientists, CEOs aren’t usually exceptional cooks, and basketball stars are rarely
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great baseball players (you can ask Jordan about that last one as well). Experience and knowledge are
only valuable where applicable.
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This mindset doesn’t just fog our external lenses, it also blurs how we see ourselves. It is often hard
for successful people to admit that they won’t be good at something new. In Jordan’s case, his
basketball skills didn’t translate into basketball management. It took some time, but Jordan certainly
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deserves credit for acknowledging what wasn’t working and trying new things until he hit on a
winning combination. He gave up managing and focused on marketing, a skill he was uniquely
qualified for. For Jordan, that became the recipe for success:
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17.
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19.
20.
Formidable (adjective): very powerful or intimidating
losing a large amount of money
when a company is spending more money than it earns
Lackluster (adjective): lacking greatness; unimpressive
Synonymous (adjective): having the same or nearly the same meaning as another word
Revitalize (verb): to put new energy or strength into something
Skyrocket (verb): to increase very quickly; to take off
Stockbrokers advise other people on how to earn more money.
In 1994, Jordan retired from the Chicago Bulls to play minor league baseball. He quit after only one year to return to
basketball.
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It’s harder than most people think. Some people have been in this business a lot longer and still
haven’t put together a sustainable, successful scenario. When you make bad decisions, you learn from
that and move forward. I think I’m better in that sense. I’ve experienced all of the different valleys and
lows about ownership and the success of businesses. Does that constitute me being a better owner?
Then I guess I am.
[20]
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Hard, yes, but flexing a new muscle is also exhilarating, especially when you eventually succeed. As
Jordan puts it, “…it’s been fun. It’s been hard, but I’ve had fun doing it.”
“Michael Jordan: A Profile in Failure” by Jeff Stibel. Copyright © 2017 by Jeff Stibel. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
21.
22.
23.
24.
make it difficult to see other people clearly
Acknowledge (verb): to accept or admit something is true
trying out a new skill
Exhilarating (adjective): exciting and energizing
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Text-Dependent Questions
Directions: For the following questions, choose the best answer or respond in complete sentences.
1.
What is the central idea of the article?
A.
B.
C.
D.
2.
Which detail from the article best demonstrates the connection between success and
failure?
A.
B.
C.
D.
3.
“Twenty-six times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed.
I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
(Paragraph 2)
“The story of Michael Jordan not making his high school team has been told and
retold, but continues to inspire with each retelling.” (Paragraph 4)
“The pattern of defeat followed by success would follow Jordan to the University
of North Carolina and later to the NBA.” (Paragraph 10)
“It is often hard for people to admit that they won’t be good at something new.”
(Paragraph 18)
Which detail would be most important to include in a summary of this text?
A.
B.
C.
D.
4.
Michael Jordan inspired many through his skills and talents on the basketball
court.
Michael Jordan inspired many through his message that failure is not necessary
for success.
Michael Jordan succeeded through failure after adopting the attitude that failure
can lead to success.
Michael Jordan succeeded through failure after adopting the attitude that
avoiding risks can lead to success.
“The ball is in or it’s out, the basket is made or missed, the game is won or lost.”
(Paragraph 3)
“The reasoning behind the choice wasn’t that Jordan didn’t have enough talent
or hadn’t already distinguished himself as an outstanding player.” (Paragraph 5)
“After picking himself up off the floor, Jordan did what champions do. He let his
failure and disappointment drive him to be better.” (Paragraph 7)
“Fear of public speaking is a good example. Yet glossophobia, the technical term
for speech anxiety, is consistently ranked among the most prevalent disorders.”
(Paragraph 9)
Which of the following best describes how the author develops the connection between
success and failure in the article?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The author establishes Michael Jordan as a successful player due to long hours
of practices and pure talent and skill.
The author reports statistics from Michael Jordan’s basketball record to prove he
was both a success and a failure at the sport.
The author highlights key events in Michael Jordan’s basketball career to show
how moments of failure or rejection pushed him harder.
The author describes what happened at Michael Jordan’s junior varsity games to
show how he used missed opportunities to push him harder.
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5.
Write a summary of the article in 4-5 sentences.
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Discussion Questions
Directions: Brainstorm your answers to the following questions in the space provided. Be prepared to
share your original ideas in a class discussion.
1.
Michael Jordan is very open about his failures. Why do you think it is important for
successful people to share their failures?
2.
Describe a time when you failed at something, but later succeeded after trying again. What
contributed to your later success?
3.
Why is it not fair to assume that, just because a person is good at one thing, they are good
at everything?
4.
Would you rather be the best in one area of achievement or average in a few different
areas?
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